Department for Transport

Railways

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 8 January 2015 to Questions 219215 and 219414, what assessment he has made of (a) the comparative proportions of public and private sector investment in the railway, (b) the relationship between rail passenger journey growth and macroeconomic factors and (c) the proportion of revenue paid by private train companies to the public purse ultimately derived from passenger fares, since rail privatisation.

Claire Perry: The Department does not have comparable figures to assess the proportions of public and private sector investment in the railway. There are several macroeconomic factors that impact on journey growth and that are built into the rail models, and as provided in the transport appraisal guidance (available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/webtag-tag-unit-m4-forecasting-and-uncertainty-november-2014). These factors include, amongst other things, growth in GDP, population and employment which have a generally positive relationship with journeys growth, and other factors such as fuel prices, car availability, air costs, some of which have positive relationships and some negative. The Department does not hold data on the proportion of revenue paid by private train companies to the public purse ultimately derived from passenger fares.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the impact that HS2 will have on rail freight operations on the West Coast Mainline.

Claire Perry: The Department expects that Hs2 will offer a number of opportunities to the freight industry. The released capacity enabled by Hs2 could provide space for an extra 20 West Coast Main Line freight paths per day. Furthermore, the construction itself will provide significant business opportunities, as preliminary analysis suggests that five million cubic metres of excavated material will need to be moved by rail. The Department understands that there may be concerns about the impact of construction on the existing rail freight network. Works on or near the existing railway during construction, however, will be undertaken in such a way to minimise adverse impacts as far as reasonably practicable. For example, as many works as possible will be undertaken in the normal night time and weekend maintenance periods so as to minimise disruption to passenger and freight services.

Freight

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what incentives are in place for freight operators to reduce road freight and use other modes of transport.

Claire Perry: The Department for Transport provides incentives to encourage the transfer of freight from road to rail and water where the cost is higher than road and where there are environmental benefits to be gained. Grants towards the operating costs of running rail and water freight services are provided through the Mode Shift Revenue Support and Waterborne Freight Grant schemes.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Mr Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funds the Government has provided to tackle potholes in Esther and Walton constituency in each year since 2010.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department for Transport provides capital funding to local highway authorities such as Surrey County Council, to help tackle potholes. This also includes the Esther and Walton constituency which falls within Surrey County Council’s area of responsibility. I, therefore, refer my Honourable Friend to my answer of 26 January 2015 (221595) which listed the funding the Department has provided to Surrey County Council for local highways maintenance, including tackling potholes, since 2009/10.

Home Office

Police Federation of England and Wales

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times and on which dates she has met representatives of the Police Federation of England and Wales since May 2010.

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times and on which dates she has met representatives of the Police Superintendents Association of England and Wales since May 2010.

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times and on which dates she has met representatives of the Association of Chief Police Officers since May 2010.

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times and on which dates she has met representatives of HM Inspectorate of Constabulary since May 2010.

Mike Penning: Home Office Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide variety of international partners, as well as organisations and individuals in the public and private sectors, as part of the process of policy development and delivery. Details of ministerial meetings are passed to the Cabinet Office on a quarterly basis and are subsequently published on the Gov.uk website:http://data.gov.uk/dataset/ministerial-data-home-office

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Sudan

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the mandate of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei to protect Ngok Dinka returnees while they gather grass to rebuild homes in that region.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are aware of recent reports of attacks on Ngok Dinka. The UK supports the mandate provided by the UN Security Council to the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) to protect civilians in the Abyei Area under imminent threat of physical violence. It is for the mission’s leadership to decide how to fulfil the mandate. The actions of the mission are scrutinised by the UK as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

Bahrain

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has recieved about the imprisonment and welfare of (a) Dr Abduljalil Alsingace and (b) other political prisoners; and what discussions he has had with his counterparts in Bahrain about those matters.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Our Embassy in Bahrain has raised the issue of access to medical treatment for Dr Abduljalil Alsingace, along with a number of other cases, with the Ombudsman for the Ministry of Interior. We encourage the Government of Bahrain to meet all of its human rights obligations, and ensure all defendants have access to the medical care they require. Our Ambassador in Bahrain has raised our broader concerns about detainee rights and prison conditions with the Government of Bahrain at the highest levels, and will continue to do so. The UK has provided support to improving the judicial system by strengthening the checks and balances in the judicial process through working with the Ministry of Justice, Attorney General and the Supreme Judicial Council on the court administration system reform. We have also introduced members from the Attorney General’s Office and the Special Investigation Unit to the experience of the public prosecution services in UK, and will continue to provide technical support to develop independent prosecution services in line with the human rights standards.

Turkmenistan

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when his Department last raised human rights concerns at ministerial level with the government of Turkmenistan.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: On 24 November I raised human rights in a meeting with Turkmenistan’s Minister for Education, underlining the UK’s readiness to support further reform in Turkmenistan. Our Embassy also discusses human rights with both Ministers and senior officials in Turkmenistan at appropriate opportunities, including during a meeting with First Deputy Foreign Minister Hajiyev in November 2014.

Human Rights Advisory Group

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, when he next plans to convene his Human Rights Advisory Group.

Mr David Lidington: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) is planning to hold a meeting of his Human Rights Advisory Group in the coming weeks.

Bahrain

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the government of Bahrain on the detention and treatment of political prisoners.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We encourage the Government of Bahrain to respect the rights of all peaceful opposition figures. If we have specific concerns around convictions or sentencing we raise these with the Government of Bahrain as part of our wider dialogue on human rights and reform. The UK’s reform assistance programme is focused on strengthening human rights and the rule of law, including torture prevention and the inauguration of the Ombudsman’s Office for the Ministry of the Interior, which has the responsibility for investigation allegations of detainee mistreatment. Our Ambassador in Bahrain has also raised our broader concerns about detainee rights and prison conditions with the Government of Bahrain at the highest levels, and will continue to do so.

Boko Haram

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the capacity of the Economic Community of West African States to tackle the threat from Boko Haram.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: During the 22 January meeting of regional Foreign Ministers in Niamey, Niger, participants agreed that the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) and African Union, working with the countries of the region would develop a credible response to tackle the threat of Boko Haram. The UK was represented at that meeting by my Right Honourable Friend the Member for Eddisbury, the Prime Minister's Special Representative for the Sahel. We expect that the African Union (AU)'s political and security council will discuss next steps during the AU Summit taking place in Addis Ababa this week.

Democratic Republic of Congo

Pauline Latham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has received about allegations of violence by Soco International in Virunga National Park.

Mr Hugo Swire: I refer to the answer given by the Secretary of State for International Development, the Rt Hon. Justine Greening MP, on 17 December (Hansard 17/12/2014 - Column 1393 -http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmhansrd/cm141217/debtext/141217-0001.htm). We are aware of allegations of wrongdoing made against Soco International, its employees and agents connected to its activities in the Virunga National Park, including those made in the documentary film 'Virunga'. We expect all companies to act appropriately and to the highest of standards, and encourage anyone with evidence of serious fraud, bribery or corruption to contact the Serious Fraud Office.

Turkmenistan

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will press the government of Turkmenistan to fulfil specific benchmarks set by the European Parliament as a condition of upgraded relations with the EU in the form of a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on ratification of the EU-Turkmenistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what his policy is on requiring benchmarks for human rights set by the European Parliament to be met by the government of Turkmenistan before the UK ratifies the EU-Turkmenistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

Mr David Lidington: The Government intends to move ahead with the ratification of the Turkmenistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA). We are proposing this move on the basis that we can best exercise useful influence to promote adherence to internationally accepted governance standards and the rule of law in Turkmenistan through constructive engagement. Furthermore the PCA itself contains specific provisions relevant to human rights which would give the UK and EU additional scope for promoting reform.While the UK shares many of the European Parliament’s concerns about human rights in Turkmenistan, the benchmarks it has set have no legal basis under the EU Treaties and the UK is not bound by their specific proposals. The UK has raised its concerns about human rights issues in Turkmenistan for a number of years, including at Ministerial level, and we will continue to do so.

European Parliament

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to bring about reform of the two seat operation of the European Parliament.

Mr David Lidington: The UK’s position is well known among other Member States; we are in favour of a single seat. The current arrangements are expensive, impractical and indefensible on environmental grounds. A move to a single seat would require Treaty change and the common accord of all Member States. We welcome the support from within the European Parliament for the move to a single seat. Pressure from Members of the European Parliament themselves to make this change should help push this issue up the political agenda throughout the European Union.

Saudi Arabia

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to promote fundamental freedoms in Saudi Arabia and to dissuade the government of that country from misusing anti-terrorism laws.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The British Government’s position on human rights in Saudi Arabia is a matter of public record. We regularly make our views known including through the UN Universal Periodic Review process and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s annual Human Rights and Democracy Report. We also raise our human rights concerns with the Saudi Arabian authorities at the highest level.We have been following the new counter-terrorism and terrorism financing legislation closely since its inception and have noted that a number of human rights activists have been sentenced in the Specialised Criminal Court, which is a court designed for security and terrorism cases. We have not yet seen evidence that it is being used routinely to target individuals engaging in civil and political debate. We continue to monitor the situation.Saudi Arabia is a key partner in our global counter terrorism efforts, particularly within the region. Saudi Arabia has many years of experience in countering radicalisation and extremism. Continued close co-operation between the UK and Saudi Arabia will remain part of work to protect both UK and Saudi Arabian interests from the threat of terrorism.

India

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the Indian government on the use of torture on terror suspects; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Hugo Swire: The Government stands firmly against torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. We recommended that the Indian government expedite ratification of the UN Convention Against Torture (UNCAT) during India’s Universal Periodic Review in May 2012. The issue was also raised at the EU-Indian Human Rights Dialogue in December 2013. We will continue to encourage India and all countries to sign and ratify UNCAT and its Optional Protocol.

USA

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2015 to Question 219031, whether there were any discussions between UK Ministers or officials and members of the US administration, US officials or legislators on the Senate Committee on Intelligence's study into the Central Intelligence Agency's Detention and Interrogation Program from its commencement in 2009, other than those referred to in his Answer.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Ministers have met members of the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, just as they have met members of other Senate Committees (individuals are often members of several different Committees) on various occasions during the period in question. At no point during any of those meetings did Ministers raise or discuss the Committee’s study, or report, into the Central Intelligence Agency’s Detention and Interrogation programme.I would also refer the hon. Member to my answer of 5 January 2015 (PQ 219031).

USA

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2015 to Question 219031, whether he was consulted by the intelligence agencies or other UK officials on which redactions to request from the report of the Senate Committee on Intelligence on the Central Intelligence Agency's Detention and Interrogation Program; and whether any of his Ministerial colleagues were consulted on the same matter.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: It is the longstanding policy of successive governments not to comment on intelligence matters.

USA

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2015 to Question 219031, on how many occasions the intelligence agencies discussed the report of the Senate Committee on Intelligence on the Central Intelligence Agency's Detention and Interrogation Program with US administration officials.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: It is the longstanding policy of successive governments not to comment on intelligence matters.

Palestinians

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with the Palestinian Authority about the steps it can take to ensure the unhindered operation of the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Officials from our Consulate-General in Jerusalem have had regular discussions with the Palestinian Authority (PA), in particular Prime Minister Hamdallah, about the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM). As a donor contributing to the establishment of the mechanism, we have been urging the PA to ensure the mechanism works effectively, in order to expedite reconstruction in Gaza. Our embassy in Tel Aviv also discusses the operation of the GRM regularly with the Israeli authorities.

Palestinians

Guto Bebb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the stability of the Fatah-Hamas Unity government in the Palestinian Authority.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Since its formation, the Palestinian interim technocratic government has faced considerable challenges threatening its stability – including the conflict in Gaza over the summer, ongoing internal Palestinian political tensions, the challenge of extending Palestinian Authority (PA) control over Gaza, and reconstructing Gaza. The government remains fragile and has a huge task in front of it in reuniting Gaza and the West Bank.The UK welcomed the formation of the interim technocratic government in June, and has strongly supported government efforts to reconstruct Gaza and re-establish PA authority there.

Northern Ireland Office

*No heading*

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress she has made on implementation of the Stormont House Agreement; and if she will make a statement.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: I refer the hon Lady to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon Member for Glasgow North East.

*No heading*

Pat Glass: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, what progress she has made on implementation of the Stormont House Agreement; and if she will make a statement.

Mrs Theresa Villiers: I refer the hon Lady to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon Member for Glasgow North East.

Attorney General

Shoplifting

Chris Ruane: To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 15 December 2014 to Question 218070, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the increase in shoplifting between 2010 and 2014.

Mr Robert Buckland: The Crown Prosecution Service has not made any formal assessment of these figures. However the figures provided in the response to Question 218070 showing an increase in charges are consistent with Home Office statistics for the number of shoplifting offences recorded by the police. These were given in a written answer (218106) provided to the Member for Cardiff South and Penarth on the 15th December 2014, which is published at;http://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&max=20&questiontype=AllQuestions&house=commons%2clords&uin=218106

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the total value was of the loans underpinned by the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme in each year since its inception; and what the value was of the loans underpinned by that scheme made by each financial institution in each of those years.

Matthew Hancock: Information on the total value of the loans underpinned by the Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme in each year since its inception, and the value of the loans underpinned by that scheme made by each financial institution in each of those years, is attached. 



Enterprise Finance Guarantee Scheme Loans Data
(Excel SpreadSheet, 46 KB)

Business: Government Assistance

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what progress the Government has made on supporting businesses.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills provides support to businesses across a wide variety of policy areas, and progress continues to be made across each of these.   Through industrial strategy, the whole of government is taking a long-term strategic approach to working in partnership with businesses to increase global competitiveness, support innovation and maximise export potential.   99.9% of UK businesses are small and medium sized businesses so we are taking specific steps to help them, and they are reaping the benefits. The right tax environment is vital to help businesses flourish so we have cut the main rate of Corporation Tax from 28% to 21% and announced further cuts to 20% by 2015 – the joint lowest rate in the G20 major economies. We have also helped businesses with the cost of hiring staff by introducing a new Employer Allowance which cuts £2,000 from the National Insurance bills of small firms.   More businesses are getting access to the finance they need to start up and grow with Start-Up Loans offered to over 25,000 businesses; so far lending over £129 million. The British Business Bank has facilitated £890m of new lending and investment to over 21,000 small businesses in the year to the end of September 2014. And we have facilitated over £1.67 billion of lending to over 16,000 small businesses since May 2010, through our Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme.   We have brought together all Government advice and support in one place at GREATbusiness.gov.uk, where the ‘My Business Support Tool’ helps businesses find the support they need quickly, and businesses can speak to or webchat with a helpline adviser direct using the Business Support helpline. Businesses can also access our new Business Growth Service on the website, which brings together expert advice to improve and grow in one place, including GrowthAccelerator, the Manufacturing Advisory Service, and export advice and finance.   Small businesses have less regulation to follow with a £10 billion cumulative net saving to businesses as a result of our deregulation work. Through the Red Tape Challenge, we have reviewed over 5,600 regulations and identified 3,000 to scrap or improve. We are on track to surpass our target of saving business £850 million per year.   Furthermore, around 48,000 businesses have been helped by our UK Trade and Investment support – of which 90% were small businesses. This support helped generate additional sales of over £49 billion and created or safeguarded over 220,000 jobs over the last year.

Property Searches

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on small and micro businesses of centralising local land charges registers.

Matthew Hancock: A Regulatory Impact Assessment relating to the provision of Local Land Charges has been produced by Land Registry. The Impact Assessment is a living document and continues to be revised in the light of greater stakeholder engagement. This takes into account the potential benefits of a fully digitised service to mitigate the effects of degrading paper and other records, with improved turnaround times, greater efficiencies and a lower fee for the customer. The Impact Assessment states that creating a single, digital Local Land Charges register would enable small and micro businesses to streamline their access arrangements.

Property Searches

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what safeguards are in place to ensure that prospective home-ownership deals do not collapse as a result of centralising local land charges registers.

Matthew Hancock: To safeguard home-ownership Land Registry already rigorously tests all IT solutions it builds and it will do the same for any new Local Land Charges system that it introduces. Implementation will also require a range of secondary legislation to support the changes, so ensuring that Parliament has the opportunity to monitor progress and to comment where it is deemed necessary.

Apprentices: Stafford

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many apprenticeship starts there were in Stafford constituency in each year since 2008.

Nick Boles: Information on the number of apprenticeship starts by geography is published in a supplementary table to a Statistical First Release (SFR): https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/378235/apprenticeships-starts-by-geography-learner-demographics-and-sector-subject-area.xls

Department for International Development

Sudan: South Sudan

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, if she will make representations to the World Food Programme requesting it to consult South Sudanese members of AJOC and Dinka Ngok residents in Abyei about its report entitled, Abyei Integrated Rapid Food Security and Nutrition Assessment, and to revise the report and its recommendations in the light of their responses.

Mr Desmond Swayne: In July 2014, the World Food Programme (WFP) carried out a rapid food security assessment in North Abyei. It found a relatively stable food security and nutrition situation, although vulnerable households were found to have reduced the number of meals consumed on a daily basis throughout the lean season (June – September). WFP South Sudan is currently undertaking a similar assessment in Southern Abyei.   WFP Sudan and WFP South Sudan are developing a common strategy for their Abyei response for 2015 and beyond. This aims to ensure a harmonized approach based on assessed needs for both the southern and northern areas of Abyei.   The UK does not currently support WFP food operations in Abyei.

Sudan: South Sudan

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department has funded any aid or development programmes in (a) Al Dayiri, (b) El Tashween, (c) Makenis, (d) Al Askar, (e) Um Kanshel, (f) El Ishlag, (g) Um Kheir, (h) El Magboul, (i) Faroug, (j) Dumboloya, (k) Antila and (l) Mukhtar locations in northern Abyei carried out or scheduled since July 2014.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The UK has made contributions to the Common Humanitarian Fund. In 2014 in Abyei, including in some of the areas flagged, the Common Humanitarian Fund supported humanitarian agencies implementing life saving support in the form of health, water and sanitation, nutrition and child protection projects.

Sudan: South Sudan

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether armed Misseriya or Twic militias have benefited from her Department's aid programmes targeted at northern areas of Abyei where Dinka Ngok are not present.

Mr Desmond Swayne: We do not currently support long-term development projects in northern areas of Abyei. The Common Humanitarian Fund (CHF) to which the UK contributes has provided support to humanitarian aid projects which provide life saving support in the form of health, water and sanitation, nutrition and child protection projects in northern parts of Abyei.

Department for Education

Teachers: Recruitment

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to increase teacher recruitment in (a) Hertfordshire and (b) England.

Mr David Laws: The Department for Education wants to attract the best and brightest graduates into teaching. Teaching continues to be a hugely popular career with more teachers in England’s classrooms than ever before and record levels of top graduates entering the profession, with 17% of postgraduate entrants to initial teacher training in 2014/15 (one in six) holding a first class degree and 73% holding a 2:1 or better. However, we recognise that we must continue our efforts to attract top graduates, which is why the Department is offering increased bursaries worth up to £25,000 tax free to those training to teach physics, maths, chemistry, computing and languages. Furthermore, the Prime Minister announced on 8 December a range of measures to up-skill 15,000 existing teachers and to recruit up to 2,500 additional specialist maths and physics teachers over the next Parliament.

Free School Meals

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools in each local authority area applied for additional capital funding for the universal infant free school meals initiative through the local authority capital bidding round; and how much additional capital funding for that initiative was applied for by each local authority.

Mr David Laws: The number of applications per local authority for additional capital funding for universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) implementation, along with the total value of funding requested by each local authority is presented in the table below. The value of funding requested has been withheld for Havering, Sandwell and Slough. These local authorities each made a single application which was successful. Including these amounts would identify the specific amounts of funding allocated to individual schools and jeopardise their ability to obtain value for money in negotiations with suppliers. The Department for Education will publish the specific amounts of funding for successful applications in July 2015. This funding is in addition to the £150 million UIFSM capital funding which local authorities have already received. Local authorities have also received £1.2 billion in general capital funding for maintenance and improvement this year. They can decide whether they should top up the UIFSM allocation from their general maintenance and improvement budgets, in the light of local circumstances. The Department has also invested £9.6 million in a national support service, run by school food experts from the Children’s Food Trust and the Lead Association for Catering in Education, which provides advice and support to schools that need help to deliver UIFSM. The support service continues to be available until the end of this calendar year to help any schools which are experiencing specific difficulties with delivery. Local AuthorityNumber of bidsValue of funding requestedBarnet2£267,500.00Barnsley6£62,500.00Bath & North East Somerset4£291,000.00Bedford2£308,465.30Bexley7£698,620.00Birmingham12£2,045,000.00Bolton8£720,500.00Bournemouth4£191,544.50Bracknell Forest6£740,000.00Bradford14£1,199,227.00Brent6£412,600.00Bristol, City of18£1,479,842.00Bromley7£1,248,090.00Buckinghamshire10£929,016.00Camden5£394,640.64Central Bedfordshire4£160,431.00Cheshire East18£674,469.35Chester West and Chester9£573,105.00Cornwall7£432,898.00Coventry8£381,204.85Croydon2£400,000.00Cumbria20£2,127,426.95Darlington1£50,000.00Derby9£11,762.87Derbyshire3£530,671.32Devon18£1,240,299.00Dorset7£208,859.00Dudley2£470,000.00Durham2£410,674.12East Riding of Yorkshire17£2,442,708.62East Sussex7£706,000.00Enfield4£900,000.00Essex7£366,091.00Gateshead10£333,031.00Gloucestershire5£813,650.00Halton17£456,033.00Hampshire3£554,172.00Hartlepool6£847,624.00Havering1WithheldHerefordshire3£65,450.42Hertfordshire4£417,262.70Hillingdon7£1,436,430.00Hounslow5£427,000.00Isle of Wight5£520,000.00Islington3£427,718.00Kent16£3,007,242.00Kingston upon Thames and Richmond upon Thames (combined)4£210,909.00Knowsley1£67,020.80Lambeth3£416,000.00Lancashire5£235,652.14Leeds9£1,006,122.24Leicestershire7£496,535.00Lincolnshire21£3,124,688.50Liverpool3£436,404.00Luton10£217,500.00Manchester5£782,776.60Medway7£1,124,604.00Milton Keynes1£77,914.00Newcastle6£570,000.00Norfolk6£200,400.00North Somerset8£1,228,404.18North Tyneside9£528,685.00North Yorkshire4£713,000.00Northamptonshire10£489,324.00Nottingham City3£294,000.00Nottinghamshire1£70,000.00Oldham2£210,345.00Oxfordshire5£986,577.00Plymouth2£1,109,000.00Poole5£272,100.00Portsmouth3£590,000.00Rochdale9£448,600.14Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead4£464,000.00Sandwell1WithheldSefton10£600,965.00Sheffield4£328,331.00Shropshire13£526,267.44Slough1WithheldSolihull4£319,439.00Somerset2£600,000.00Southampton4£285,648.99Southend-on-Sea10£712,615.00Southwark2£300,000.00St Helen's4£520,243.00Staffordshire7£496,573.15Stockport11£1,269,329.21Stoke-on-Trent2£400,000.00Sunderland2£165,000.00Surrey34£2,327,811.63Sutton3£203,050.00Swindon2£233,895.00Tameside7£686,142.58Telford5£362,875.00Torbay2£213,000.00Trafford5£461,988.00Walsall6£413,703.00Waltham Forest23£1,933,450.00Wandsworth2£432,527.50Warrington2£162,300.00Warwickshire16£675,626.21West Berkshire7£993,315.00West Sussex16£2,389,093.46Wigan1£59,860.00Wiltshire33£1,230,835.99Wirral7£238,335.82Wokingham2£432,300.00Worcestershire35£972,187.24York1£86,700.00

Schools: Vocational Guidance

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many complaints her Department has received about careers advice in schools in each year since 2009-10.

Nick Boles: The Department for Education receives a large amount of correspondence on a wide range of school issues, including careers advice. We do not collect data on the number of complaints about a particular subject.

Schools: Vocational Guidance

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 21 January 2015 to Question 221152, how many staff in schools had the role of careers adviser in the academic year (a) 2009-10, (b) 2010-11, (c) 2011-12, (d) 2012-13 and (e) 2013-14.

Nick Boles: The Department for Education publishes data on the number of staff in schools with the role of careers adviser.   The figures for England, available from 2010, are: Number staff (headcount), with role of careers adviser in publicly funded schools in England, November in each yearNov-13660Nov-12570Nov-11470Nov-10450   Source: School Workforce Census. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

Leader of the House

Leader of the Opposition

Stephen Metcalfe: To ask the Leader of the House, what the cost to the public purse was of the Leader of the Opposition's Short Money travel allowance, paid to the Labour Party, in each individual financial year in the 2010 Parliament to date.

Mr William Hague: As part of the Short Money scheme, the Office of the Leader of the Opposition receives an annual sum to meet costs incurred in caryring out its parliamentary business. Travel costs for the Leader of the Oppsition are not funded separately. However, each party in receipt of Short Money may claim for travelling expenses incurred by opposition spokespeople in relation to the party's parliamentary business. Payments made in respect of both budgets are shown below:Financial YearOffice of the Leader of OppositionLabour Party Travel2010/11 (from 7 May 2010)£604,493.00£129,991.792011/12£700,699.00£150,679.432012/13£734,333.00£157,912.042013/14£757,096.86£162,807.532014/15 (to 26 January 2015)£583,153.86£0.00

Ministry of Defence

Navy: Deployment

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what plans he has to increase the average length of Royal Navy deployments in the South Atlantic and the Gulf; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Russia

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many airborne sorties have been carried out by the Royal Air Force to intercept Russian military aircraft approaching or entering British airspace in each month since April 2005.

Mr Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Navy: Deployment

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) length and (b) area was of each deployment by each Royal Navy (i) destroyer and (ii) frigate since 2005.

Mr Mark Francois: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Navy: Deployment

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many naval service personnel were deployed in breach of the Royal Navy's harmony guidelines in each financial year from 2005-06 to 2013-14.

Anna Soubry: The information is not held in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.However, information is held on the number of personnel in breach of harmony regulations at the beginning of each month. The table below shows numbers in the Naval Service in breach of harmony regulations on 1 April each year from 2008 to 2014.  Trained UK Regular Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel breaching Navy harmony guidelines(over 660 days of separated service in a 36 month period) April 2008April 2009April 2010April 2011April 2012April 2013April 2014 170310480270170290220%0.50.91.40.80.50.90.7Source: Defence Statistics (Tri Service and Defence Statistics (Navy)) 1. Information provided is based on all Trained UK Regular Royal Navy and Royal Marines personnel breaching the harmony guidelines of over 660 days of separated service over the 36 month period, not necessarily those deployed while in breach of harmony guidelines.2. Roundinga. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10, though numbers ending in a "5" have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20 to prevent the systematic bias caused by always rounding numbers upwards.b. For example; a value of '25' would be rounded down to '20' and a value of '15' would be rounded up to '20'.c.Percentages are calculated from unrounded data and presented to one decimal place.d. Italic figures are used for percentages and other rates, except where otherwise indicated.

European Fighter Aircraft

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when his Department plans to fit Typhoon jets with the Brimstone missile; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Philip Dunne: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 28 October 2014 to Question 211340.



Hansard Extract 28 October 2014
(Word Document, 33 KB)

Defence Medical Services

Sir Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 10 December 2014 to Question 217205, if he will make it his Department's policy to collect and analyse data on the extent to which armed forces medical personnel are in breach of the single service harmony guidelines; and if he will make a statement.

Anna Soubry: The Ministry of Defence has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Navy: Deployment

Sir Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many and what proportion of Royal Navy personnel in each pinch point trade are exceeding their harmony guidelines.

Anna Soubry: Between 1 December 2011 and 30 November 2014, by operational pinch point trades, those in breach of harmony are as follows: Number ofpersonnelOver 660days% breachingRoyal Navy personnel22,903990.4Operational Pinch Points4,112421.0Minewarfare. Rank: Petty Officer/Leading Hand.120<105.8Hydrographer. Rank: Leading Hand.19<55.3Tactical Weapon System. Rank: Chief Petty Officer/Petty Officer.175 0.0Medical Assistant. Rank: Leading Hand to Chief Petty Officer, Operating Department Practitioner.20 0.0Engineering Technician, Weapon Engineer. Rank: Petty Officer.215<50.5Strategic Weapon System. Rank: Leading Rate to Warrant Officer 2.154 0.0Medical Assistant, Submariner 2. Rank: Senior Rate.30 0.0Sensors Submarine. Rank: Able Rate.113 0.0Coxswain, Rank: Chief Petty Officer.20 0.0Weapon Engineering, Submarines. Rank: Lieutenant.88 0.0Marine Engineering General Service - Rank: Petty Officer.324<101.5Warfare Specialist (Underwater Warfare), Ranks: Able Rate, Leading Hand and Petty Officer.195<102.6Weapons Engineer, General Service, Rank: Leading Engineering Technician.286<50.3Marine Engineering General Service - Rank: Chief Petty Officer.323<50.9Warfare Specialist, Abovewater Warfare Weapons and Abovewater Warfare Tactical. Rank: Leading Hand.259<50.8Chefs - General Service. Rank: Able Rate/Leading Hand.431<50.9Marine Engineering General Service. Rank: Leading Engineering Technician.490<101.0Able Seaman (Specialist).361<102.2Marine Engineering Artificer, Marine Engineering Mechanic and Engineering Technician. Ranks: Chief Petty Officer, Petty Officer, Warrant Officer 2 and Warrant Officer 1.489 0.0Non- Critical Royal Navy Personnel15,742420.3Source: Defence Statistics (Tri Service) and Defence Statistics (Navy)Notes:1) Operational Pinch Points defined at 1 December 20142) Non Critical refers to those parts of the RN not defined as Operational Pinch Points/Critical Manning Groups/Manning Pinch Points3) Numbers less than 5 have been rounded and shown as <5 ; 5 to 9 inclusive have been shown as <10

Department for Work and Pensions

Offshore Industry: Safety

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the Health and Safety Executive about backlogs of safety-critical maintenance work on offshore installations in the North Sea.

Mr Mark Harper: DWP ministers have had no such discussions with the Health and Safety Executive.

Disability Living Allowance

Mr Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many calls were made to the disability living allowance helpline, 08457 123456 in each of the last five financial years; how much revenue was generated from these calls; and by when he expects to end the use of this number.

Esther McVey: The following table details the number of calls received on the Disability Living Allowance Helpline, 08457 123456 for each of the last five financial years as reported on OPMIS (Operational Management Information Statistics) system.   Financial yearCalls rec’d on 08457123456 helpline2009/105,289,4942010/114,980,3402011/124,760,0162012/134,523,8612013/14 3,631,121   DWP received no revenue for calls to this number for the financial years 2009/10 to 2013/14. The DLA Helpline service can also be accessed by dialling 03457 123456. Callers to 08457 123456 are informed of the availability of the 0345 option and are signposted to their telephony provider for advice on which number is cheaper. The use of 0845 numbers were inherited from previous Government and this Department has since introduced 0345 numbers because they are cheaper under most operators’ packages and where they are not, we have kept 0845 numbers.   Any charges that apply to these calls will be set by the customer’s telephone or mobile operator. Charge variations will occur due to operator packages and individual price plans. We are aware of possible concerns about call charges to our enquiry lines so we will offer to call a customer back if concerns are raised over the cost of the call.

Offshore Industry: Safety

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which operational installations in the North Sea have a backlog of safety-critical maintenance work; and what the deadlines are for completion of such work in each case.

Mr Mark Harper: HSE does not collect the data in the form requested. In its latest Safety Report, the trade body Oil and Gas UK reported an average of 170 man hours backlog per installation for December 2013.   All duty holders are required to ensure plant is maintained in an efficient state, efficient working order and in good repair.   In developing its current offshore strategy, HSE consulted widely with operator, contractor and workforce representatives. All identified maintenance backlogs as a significant and persistent issue affecting safety as well as efficient and sustainable production. Inspection of maintenance and asset integrity is a central part of HSE’s offshore intervention strategy. This includes taking enforcement action where duty holders have failed to manage the risk from maintenance backlogs or have failed to identify risks arising from inadequate maintenance.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Forests

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans the Government has to improve protection for ancient woodland in (a) England and (b) Staffordshire.

George Eustice: The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires that planning permission should be refused for any proposed development resulting in the loss or deterioration of ancient woodland unless the need for and benefits of the development in that location clearly outweigh the loss.   The Government is considering the recent recommendations of the Communities and Local Government Select Committee on the NPPF, including those on revising the wording relating to ancient woodlands and the potential for designating more ancient woodlands as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). We will respond in due course. However, Natural England is working on identifying further ancient woodland suitable for designation as SSSI.

National Parks

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will take steps to encourage more children to use national parks.

Dan Rogerson: National parks have a statutory purpose to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of their special qualities by the public. Defra funds national park authorities to deliver their purposes. Each park provides a wealth of resources specifically to help children, young people and their carers make the most of the experience, from on-line information to practical activities. For example, the Ranger Ralph Club on Dartmoor runs up to 12 outdoor events a year for 5-12 year olds and the North York Moors’ education service provides curriculum-linked activities for all key stages.

Wildlife: Smuggling

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress has been made on the implementation of commitments made by (a) the UK and (b) partner nations at the London Conference on the illegal wildlife trade in February 2014.

George Eustice: The UK is committed to playing its part in ending the scourge of the global illegal wildlife trade, which is why we hosted the London Conference on the illegal wildlife trade in February 2014. The London Conference Declaration contained 25 commitments to action on enforcement and criminal justice, eradicating the market for illegal wildlife products and sustainable livelihoods.   A report describing the UK’s progress on delivering the commitments made in the London Conference Declaration will be published this spring. We have also designed a £10 million package, over four years, to support international action to tackle the illegal wildlife trade, focused on the themes discussed at the London Conference. As part of this package, 19 projects around the world will receive over £5.3 million through the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund.   The UK is producing a progress report on behalf of all the countries and Intergovernmental Organisations which adopted the London Conference Declaration. This report will be based on their contributions.

Hunting Act 2004

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government plans to bring forward legislative proposals to amend or repeal the Hunting Act 2004 before the end of the current Parliament.

George Eustice: I refer the honourable member to the answer I gave the honourable member for Garston and Halewood, Maria Eagle, on 27 November 2014 Written Parliamentary Question number 215464.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Fire Services: Pensions

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government of 15 December 2014, Official Report, columns 1148-56, if the Minister will meet the Fire Brigades Union and fire authority employers, and their respective legal representatives, to discuss how commitments that she gave in that debate on fire service pensions will be implemented in practice; and if he will make a statement.

Penny Mordaunt: My Department will be working with representative bodies and the employers in the fitness working group facilitated by the Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser to provide good practice on the application of the firefighter fitness principles now incorporated into the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England. We have also agreed to set in train an independent review of the operation of these principles in three years time, and in the light of that review, to take such additional action as might be required to ensure the commitments made to Parliament are secured.

Local Government Finance

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what the comparative change has been in local authority funding at the 10 (a) most and (b) least deprived local authority areas since 2010.

Kris Hopkins: The information is not held centrally in the form requested. Moreover, meaningful, like-for-like comparisons between individual local authorities cannot be made over more than one financial year owing to changes in local authority responsibility and function, as for instance due to the transfer of responsibility for concessionary travel and due to the introduction of academy schools.

Forced Labour

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department issues to local authorities on proactive inspection of houses of multiple occupation for cases of labour exploitation.

Brandon Lewis: My Department is responsible for housing and planning law. In 2012, my Department published guidance to local authorities on dealing with rogue landlords, including “beds and sheds”. It noted how (the rare cases of) landlord criminality may be linked to other issues, such as providing illegal employment, benefit fraud, or tax evasion. In some parts of the country, outbuildings are occupied by predominantly migrant workers, some of whom may be in the UK illegally. We recommended that local authorities combine forces with other agencies – and may wish to form focussed multi-disciplinary teams. We intend to publish an updated edition of the guidance in due course.

HM Treasury

VAT

Andrew Bingham: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with business organisations about changes to VAT invoicing requirements when discounting for early payment.

Mr David Gauke: HMRC consulted on VAT accounting for prompt payment discounts between 17 June and 9 September 2014. HMRC listened to business concerns and issued guidance in December 2014 which will make it easier for businesses to account for VAT on prompt payment discounts.

VAT

Andrew Bingham: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the effect on businesses of changes to VAT invoicing on discounting for early payment schemes.

Mr David Gauke: HM Treasury is in regular contact with the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on a wide range of issues

Sanitary Protection: VAT

Stella Creasy: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the amount of VAT collected from the sale of sanitary products in the last five years.

Mr David Gauke: VAT receipts from the sale of sanitary products subject to the reduced rate of VAT are estimated to have been approximately £15m in each of the last five years.   A reduced rate of VAT of 5% currently applies to female sanitary products. This has been in place since 2001 and is the lowest rate possible under EU law.   The application of VAT in the EU, including rates and flexibilities afforded to member states in this regard, is governed by EU law. The Government cannot introduce a new zero rate as this would require a change to EU VAT legislation, which would require a proposal from the European Commission and the unanimous agreement of all 28 member states.

Financial Services: EU Action

Mike Weatherley: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what progress has been made on securing an emergency brake for any member state on future EU legislation affecting financial services.

Mr David Gauke: The Government is continually working to ensure that UK interests are fully reflected in EU negotiations on financial services legislation, which are particularly important to the UK given the size of our financial services industry. In negotiations on the creation of a banking union for the single currency, the Government secured important safeguards for the single market, including a new double majority voting system at the European Banking Authority, and protection against UK financial liability through the new Single Resolution Mechanism. As we work with other Member States to improve the functioning of the EU, increase Europe’s competitiveness and complete the single market, we will continue to ensure that the UK’s interests in financial services are fully protected.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Fossil Fuels: Prices

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment his Department has made of (a) future changes in fossil fuel energy prices and (b) the implications of such changes for the calculation of the value for money of his Department's energy policies and alternative energy pathways.

Matthew Hancock: We develop three fossil fuel price projections for use in policy making. These present a large range of potential future energy prices. Energy prices are monitored on an ongoing basis and updated annually.The Levy Control Framework sets a limit on the support the Government can provide to the development of low carbon electricity. This has been set to 2020/21 and is detailed in the Annual Energy Statement, published in October 2014:https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/371387/43586_Cm_8945_accessible.pdf.Long term projections of fossil fuel prices inform this budget setting process and will continue to do so.When setting these budgets, the Government considers a number of risks that could affect support costs, including the impact of lower wholesale prices. The Government takes potential risks to the LCF limits very seriously and will ensure consumers receive value for money from the schemes supported.The recent fall in commodity prices exemplifies the need for diversity in the UK's electricity technology mix as a crucial element of reducing the risk imposed by fuel price volatility. Electricity Market Reform facilitates a portfolio approach to deliver this.

Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, pursuant to the Answer of 12 January 2015 to Question 219697, if he will revise calculations of value for money delivered by the non-domestic Renewable Heat Incentive to take account of falling fossil fuel energy prices.

Amber Rudd: The RHI policy has been designed to provide renewable heat, which contributes towards the UK’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED) target, in the most cost effective way. As such, we calculate value for money for the scheme in units of pence per kilowatt hour (p/kWh) of support, and look at comparative costs of producing renewable energy from other renewable sources.

Oil: Prices

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions he has had with the Oil and Gas Authority regarding the (a) regulatory and (b) industry response to the slump in global oil prices.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Offshore Industry

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what recent steps he has taken to protect (a) employment levels, (b) infrastructure integrity and (c) production capacity in the offshore oil and gas industry.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Cabinet Office

Young People

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many and what proportion of young people aged 16 to 18 living in (a) Bethnal Green and Bow constituency and (b) England had a working or educational status classified as unknown in each year since 2010.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter - Working and Educational Status 
(PDF Document, 122.81 KB)

Department of Health

Antidepressants

Derek Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what guidance his Department provides to GPs about the prescription of anti-depressants and the need to reduce the risk of overdose.

George Freeman: Advice on the prescribing of anti-depressants is available in the British National Formulary, which is made available free of charge to National Health Service prescribers. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published the following clinical guidelines, relevant to the prescribing of anti-depressant medication:   - Self-harm: the short-term physical and psychological management and secondary prevention of self-harm in primary and secondary care (CG16, 2004) http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG16   - Depression in adults: treatment and management (CG90, 2009). An update of this clinical guideline is scheduled in NICE’s work programme for publication in 2017 http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG90   - Depression in adults with a chronic physical health problem: treatment and management (CG91, 2009) http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG91   - Generalised anxiety disorder and panic disorder in adults: management in primary, secondary and community care (CG113, 2011) http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG113   - Common mental health disorders: identification and pathways to care (CG123, 2011) http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG123   - Self-harm: longer term management (CG133, 2011) http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG133   - Social anxiety disorder: recognition, assessment and treatment (CG159, 2013) http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG159

Dialysis Machines

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, which bodies his Department and NHS England consulted before deciding to remove specialised commissioned service status from dialysis and passing down the commissioning of that treatment to clinical commissioning group level.

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, on what basis his Department and NHS England decided to remove the specialised commissioned service status from dialysis.

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what parliamentary oversight there is of changes to the list of the specialised commissioned services within the NHS in England.

Jane Ellison: Ministers make the final decision about services that should be included on the specialised services list in legislation. This includes deciding whether or not to transfer commissioning responsibility for renal dialysis services from NHS England to clinical commissioning groups. No ministerial decision has yet been made.   Ministers make provision in a statutory instrument for those services which should be included on the prescribed specialised services list. This is laid before Parliament and subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament.

Female Genital Mutilation

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when his Department last updated the guidance it issues to the NHS on dealing with women who have undergone FGM.

Jane Ellison: The Department provided an interim update to the health content of the “Multi Agency Practice Guidelines – Female Genital Mutilation” in July 2014 whilst more detailed guidance was being developed to reflect new requirements on National Health Service staff related to the Department’s FGM Prevention Programme. We plan to publish further guidance next month.   The Department and NHS England have also issued FGM guidance to the NHS through a statement of requirements and responsibilities, and have updated the content for health professionals on the NHS Choices FGM web-page.   The Department also commissioned Health Education England to produce five new e-learning training sessions on FGM for NHS staff, the first of which is available free of charge to NHS staff on the national ‘eLearning for Health’ platform.

Accident and Emergency Departments: Nottinghamshire

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what proportion of ambulances have had to queue for more than 30 minutes outside A&E at (a) Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and (b) Nottingham University Hospitals in each quarter since 2005.

Jane Ellison: Information is not available in the format requested.

Hospitals: Nottinghamshire

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what proportion of elective operations were cancelled on or after the day of admission for non-clinical reasons at (a) Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and (b) Nottingham University Hospitals in each quarter since 2005.

Jane Ellison: The data is not held centrally in the format requested.   Quarterly figures for the number of last minute cancellations by the hospital for non-clinical reasons at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Nottingham University Hospitals are provided in the table attached. Last minute means on the day the patient was due to arrive, after the patient has arrived in hospital or on the day of the operation or surgery. 



Cancelled operations for non clinical reasons-NHS 
(Excel SpreadSheet, 24.56 KB)

Accident and Emergency Departments: Nottinghamshire

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many and what proportion of patients had to wait for four hours or more at A&E at (a) Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and (b) Nottingham University Hospitals in each quarter since 2004.

Jane Ellison: Information on the number and proportion of patients that waited more than four hours from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust in each quarter since 2004, is shown in the attached table. 



Figures of patient waiting times-NHS organisations
(Excel SpreadSheet, 27.34 KB)

Accident and Emergency Departments: Nottinghamshire

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many patients aged over 90 arrived at A&E at (a) Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and (b) Nottingham University Hospitals in a blue light ambulance in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison: The information requested, for the last five years for which data is currently available is provided in the table below.   Counts of accident and emergency (A&E) attendances (excluding planned attendances) for patients aged over 90 years old broken down by arrival mode for selected hospital providers (a) Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and (b) Nottingham University Hospitals for 2008-09 to 2012-13.Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sectorYearOrganisationArrival mode AmbulanceOtherNot Known 2008-09Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust1,103192- Nottingham University Hospitals1,851247- 2009-10Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust1,1782152 Nottingham University Hospitals1,913219- 2010-11Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust1,345243- Nottingham University Hospitals1,997249- 2011-12Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust1,542301- Nottingham University Hospitals2,248300- 2012-13Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust1,652307- Nottingham University Hospitals2,651337-   Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC)   Notes: The information provided is not a count of patients as the same patient may have been admitted more than once in a year. HES figures are available from 2007-08 onwards. Changes to the figures ever time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage and changes in NHS practice. For example, changes in activity may be due to changes in the provision of care. Note that HES include activity ending in the year in question and run from April to March, e.g. 2012-13 includes activity occurring between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013. Data for Ambulances includes air ambulance / helicopter. 2013-14 HES A&E data is published by the HSCIC on 28 January 2015.

Medical Records: Databases

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 19 January 2015 to Question 220819, what weight was given to previous evidence of successful management of NHS data programmes in appointing the Senior Responsible Officer of the care.data programme.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Senior Responsible Owner for the care.data programme was appointed on an interim basis in March 2014. That appointment has been reviewed by the Major Projects Authority which works with HM Treasury and other government departments to provide independent assurance on major projects. A permanent appointment for that post will be made in the near future in line with the guidance set out by the Major Projects Authority in the Cabinet Office.

Ovarian Cancer

Mrs Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the full evaluation report of the Be Clear on Cancer regional pilot for ovarian cancer.

Jane Ellison: Public Health England (PHE) can confirm that there will be a full and final evaluation report for the regional ovarian pilot campaign published as soon as possible, when analysis of all metrics is complete. However, in advance of a final evaluation report, the National Cancer Intelligence Network (part of PHE) aims to publish the results from the analysis of Cancer Waiting Times data for the regional ovarian pilot during the early part of 2015.

Medical Records: Databases

Mr Roger Godsiff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer from the Secretary of State for Health of 2 January 2015 to Question 219648, if he will make arrangements for any decision to start collecting care.data information from GP practices to be approved by the House.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The Health and Social Care Act 2012 empowers the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) to require organisations providing care funded by the National Health Service to submit data to it when directed by the Secretary of State for Health or by NHS England.   The decision to proceed with fair processing and data extraction from the pathfinder practices will be taken by the care.data Programme Board. NHS England and the HSCIC will be required to give their approval to proceed as Joint Data Controllers as a pre-requisite to Board approval.   This collection will only take place once the National Data Guardian, Dame Fiona Caldicott, is satisfied it is right and safe to do so.